NC State MAC Fellowship Program Draws Top Candidates

The Jenkins MAC Fellowship Program, created in 2005 by the Poole College Department of Accounting in partnership with sponsoring CPA firms and the NC State Graduate School, has been drawing top candidates into the MAC program.

“These candidates come from universities and colleges around the globe and bring with them a depth of work and academic experience that creates a foundation for great success in the business world – and in the NC State MAC program,” said Sara Concini, assistant director of career services for the MAC Program.

Students may qualify for academic or firm-sponsored fellowships. Each fellowship provides financial support for tuition – up to $36,000 in 2017-18 – as well as health insurance and a graduate assistantship stipend. Firm-sponsored fellowships also include an offer of employment upon graduation.

All candidates are selected based on their scholarship, leadership, service, experience, presence and integrity. Firm-sponsored fellows are informed that they are finalists along with their admission into the MAC program.

Four incoming students have been selected as academic fellows for the Jenkins MAC Class of 2018 and an additional 12 were invited to begin the 2017 firm-sponsored fellows process.

The finalists received their first benefit from the program prior to arriving on campus: assistance in preparing their resumes. They presented those resumes to representatives from seven public accounting firms at their first networking event on Thursday, March 16 at the NC State Talley Student Union.

At the end of the day, the students learned which firms requested an on-campus interview with them the next day on campus. “It’s quite a whirlwind experience,” Concini said.

“The candidates we’ve seen have been self-starters, interested not only in accounting but also public accounting, and are making an educated decision to commit to the profession. All are desirable traits when we engage with students on campus,” says Scott Duda, an audit partner with Cherry Bekaert, a firm that has participated in the fellow program for several years.

This year, all 12 candidates received two or more campus interviews, Concini said. Those interviews were completed the next day. The final steps in the process: wait to hear about possible office visit interviews and hopefully receive a job offer.

“The entire recruiting process is expected is completed in April,” Concini said. There is the potential for eight total firm-sponsored fellows. Students who do not receive an offer are guaranteed academic support to cover tuition and fees for one semester.

“The Jenkins MAC fellowship program would not be possible without the support from accounting firms and NC State,” Concini said.

Sarah Tegen, a recruiter for EY, said she sees the value of participating. “EY is invested in sourcing the top Wolfpack talent into the firm. Year after year, we have found that the MAC Fellowship Program provides us with exceptional candidates from unique and diverse backgrounds looking to work hard and excel as a student in the NC State MAC program. This level of drive and commitment is exactly what we look for when hiring high performing staff into the firm.” she said.

For more information on the fellowship process or to learn more about the Jenkins MAC Program contact Mike Graham, assistant director of admissions.